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Maine Charter School Commission

Monthly Commission Meeting

Published on January 14, 2026 at 8:09 AM EST

Date and Time

Wednesday January 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM EST

Location

Zoom

The Vision of the Maine Charter School Commission is that "Innovative public charter schools will provide Maine students with an equitable opportunity for an excellent education where students are valued, supported and challenged."

 

The Mission of the Maine Charter School Commission is "To authorize, monitor and support innovative public charter schools that provide a dynamic, high-quality education for every student."

 

Reminders:

  • This meeting is being recorded via Zoom.
  • We ask members of the public to hold comments until public comments are heard.

 

Any person seeking special accommodation for the public meeting should contact Sue Whipkey at (207)816-2187 or susan.whipkey@maine.gov.

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter
I. Opening Items
  A. Record Attendance   Susan Whipkey
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Leigh Albert
  C. To Consider the Approval of the 11/12/25 Commission Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Leigh Albert
    Minutes for Monthly Commission Meeting on November 12, 2025
II. Additions or Adjustments to the Agenda
  A. Additions/Adjustments Discuss Leigh Albert
III. Committee Reports
  A. School Performance Committee FYI Tori Kornfield
  B. Finance Committee FYI Brian Langley
  C. Executive Committee FYI Leigh Albert
IV. Public Comment*
  A. Public Comment Discuss Leigh Albert
V. Presentation(s)
 
  • SY2024-25 Annual Charter School Report Review and Discussion with Commissioner Makin
VI. Executive Director/Commission Staff Report
  A. School Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  B. Organizational Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  C. Media Updates FYI Lana Ewing
   
  • Aroostook Huskies Captain named Maine Connections Academy STAR Student of the Month - The County
   
VII. Monthly School Portfolio/Data Report
  A. 2025 Boards and Commissions Report Discuss Amy Allen
   
  B. SY2025-26 Student Demographic Data Breakdowns Discuss Amy Allen
   
  • SY2025-26 Enrollment Statistics
  • SY2025-26 Demographic Data Breakdowns
  • SY2025-26 Resident District Breakdown
  • SY2025-26 Resident Town Breakdown
   
   
   
   
VIII. Unfinished Business
 
  • None
IX. New Business Requiring Approval and/or Acceptance
 
  • None
X. New Business Requiring Notification to the Commission (No formal action to be taken by Commission)
  A. New Governing Board Members FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • Baxter Academy for Technology and Science (Linda Chauldron)
  • Ecology Learning Center (Beth Arnold)
  • Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences (Joanne D'Arcangelo)
  • Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences (Bruce Woodard)
   
   
   
   
  B. Board Member Resignations/Left the Board FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • ACADIA Academy (Aaron Landry)
  • ACADIA Academy (Jon Mercier)
  • Ecology Learning Center (Kenneth Hahn)
  • Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences (Kaiti Lewis)
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (Kristen Case)
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (Lee Karter)
  C. Board Member Term Outs FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • None
XI. Future Topics
  A. Future Topics FYI Leigh Albert
   

 

February

  • Performance Framework Revisions
  • Mid-Year Meetings Update
  • Maine Arts Academy Enrollment Amendment Request
XII. Announcements
  A. Important Dates FYI Leigh Albert
   

 

  • January 26, 2026 (9:00-10:30am) for School Leaders
    • How to Host a Successful Policy Maker Visit and Engage Your Board
  • February 10, 2026 (10:00am-12:00pm) for Board Members and School Leaders
    • Strategic Planning: Mid-Year Update
  • February 11, 2026 (10:00am-12:00pm) for Commission Members
    • Revisit MCSC Strategic Plan, Mission, Vision, and Performance Framework

Other

  • May 2, 2026 (11:00am-1:00pm)
    • Maine Arts Academy 10-Year Anniversary Gala
  B. Upcoming Business Meeting(s) FYI Leigh Albert
   

 

  • February - Room #500/Cross Office Building, Augusta

 
XIII. Closing Items
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Leigh Albert

* The Charter School Commission does not allow airing of complaints in public meetings regarding Commission and charter school employees or school employment matters, in order to protect employee privacy, to comply with Maine law and pursuant to our contractual relation with the schools. To the extent that the Commission receives complaints and concerns relating to school employees in writing, those concerns will be reviewed and addressed by the Commission and its staff outside of a public meeting. This meeting is not the appropriate forum for such comments. You are free to direct your concerns in writing to the Commission's Executive Director, if you have not done so already.